Partition with a metal framework



June 22, 1965 Filed July '15, 1960 J. J. A. GRISARD ETAL PARTITION WITHA METAL FRAMEWORK 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS JEAN JOSEPH ARTHUR GRISARDMARCEL JEAN ARTHUR GRISARD ATTORNEYS n 1955 J. J. A. GRISARD ETAL3,190,407

PARTITION WITH A METAL FRAMEWORK Filed July 13, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2'II'TI V, YIIIIIII IN VENTOR S.

JEAN JOSEPH ARTHUR GRISARD MARCEL JEAN ARTHUR GRISARD BY MJK' 5*ATTORNEYS J1me 1965 J. .1. A. GRISARD ETAL 3,190,407

PARTITION WITH A METAL FRAMEWORK 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 13. 1960INVENTORS.

JEAN JOSEPH ARTHUR GRISARD MARCEL JEAN ARTHUR GRISARD ATTORNEYS m 1965J. J. A. GRISAYRD ETAL 3,

PARTITION WITH A METAL FRAMEWORK Filed July 13, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 4236 43 gigiq. 3? v I I r i y I, I I; M I w? F e. a.

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J. J. A. GRISARD ETAL PARTITION WITH A METAL FRAMEWORK 5 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTORS JEAN JOSEPH ARTHUR GRIS'ARD MARCEL JEAN ARTHUR GRISARD BY MAU- ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,190,4tl7 PARTITl'GN WITH A METAL FRAMEWGRK Jean loseph Arthur Grisard, 93 Blvd. St. Michel, Etterbeeir, Belgium, andMarcel Jean Arthur Grisard, 51 Ave. des Croix du Feu, Brussels, BelgiumFiled July 13, 196i), Ser. No. 42,653 Claims priority, applicationBelgium, July 17,1959, 460,313, Patent 580,897; lune 24, 196i), 3%,868,Patent 592,242

1 Claim. (Cl. 189-34) The object of the present invention is to providea partition with metal framework, of the kind consisting of mostlyequidistant uprights joined by cross-beams and in which the spacesenclosed in these boundaries are closed by panels resting against thecorresponding parts of aforesaid uprights and cross-beams.

A first feature of the present invention is to be found in the use, aswell for the uprights as for the cross-beams, of identical box girdersof rectangular cross-section, two opposite parallel faces of which areopen and provided with two free edges bent outwards so as to form arabbet along each narrow longitudinal side of aforesaid girder.

Another feature of the present invention is to be found in the mutualcombination of aforesaid uprights and cross-beams so as to form oneither side of the spaces enclosed by the adjacent parts of aforesaiduprights and cross-beams, continuous rabbets in which filling panels canbe let-in on all four sides.

Another feature of the present invention is also to be found in theinterconnection or fastening of adjacent uprights and cross-beams bymeans of connecting pieces which are entirely housed inside thecorresponding parts of aforesaid uprights and cross-beams.

A further feature of the present invention is also to be found in thefact that aforesaid connecting elements between uprights and cross-beamsconsist of a minimum number of parts, and namely of two simple metalstrips which go right through an upright and through which, near eitherend, there is a pressure screw bearing onto the corresponding part ofthe Web of the adjoining crossbeams.

Another feature of the present invention is to be found in the fact thatall open parts of the uprights and crossbeams are closed by cover stripsfastened to aforesaid uprights and cross-beams by elastic means in suchway that, although out of sight, they can be easily and rapidlyassembled and disassembled without use of any special tools.

Finally, a further feature of the present invention is also to be foundin the combination between aforesaid cover-strips, the correspondingpart of the uprights and cross-beams, the panels held in their places byaforesaid cover-strips in the rabbets delimited by aforesaid uprightsand cross-beams and the elastic fastening elements which unite aforesaidcover-strips with aforesaid adjacent uprights.

These various features, when adequately combined, make it possible toerect partitions of any size and for all applications, such partitionsbeing apt to be extended in one or several planes. They can be builteither as described above, or also by combining aforesaid features andcharacteristics with any known material or means known as such but whichmake it possible to impart to aforesaid partition any qualities requiredin connection with the intended applications.

Thus, the panels can bear against the bottom of the rabbets of adjacentparts of the uprights and cross-beams, by means of sealing inserts. Thespace between front and rear panels of a given partition can be filledwith any convenient filling material.

The fastening means between uprights and cross-beams All are variable,and any convenient material, such as metal, plastics, etc. can be used,whilst in a general way, all metal parts will be made of aluminum or ofan aluminum alloy.

In order to show more clearly the advantages obtained through aforesaidobjects and features of the present invention, various embodiments aredescribed in greater detail below, whereby the description does notimply nor convey any limitations and is given with reference to theappended drawings of which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a fundamental element of the metalframework conforming to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of part of a metal section which isparticularly suitable for the uprights and the cross-beams as well;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view, with partial crosssection, of theconnection between uprights and crossbeams of the metal framework;

FIGURES 4 and 5 are cross-sections along lines IV-IV and V--Vrespectively of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of part of an upright and two connectingelements for adjacent cross-beams;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a fundamental element of a partitionconforming to the present invention;

FIGURE 8 is a cross-section along the line VIII-VIII of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a cross-section similar to that of FIG- URE 8, but of analternative fixing device of the coverstrip;

FIGURE 10 shows in cross-section how a corner how a corner can be madeby a combination of the partitions consisting of the metal framework,object of the present invention;

FIGURES 11, 12 and 13 are cross-sections of three alternative types ofthe metal section represented in FIGURE 2.

As shown in FIGURES 1 to 8, the partition with metal framework accordingto the present invention substantially consists of uprights 1, which aremostly equally spaced, interconnected by cross-beams 2. These uprightsand cross-beams are made of identical metal sections open on twoopposite parallel faces. In one preferred form of embodiment, this metalsection, as represented in FIGURE 2, in a box girder reinforced by atleast one central web 3 and having on two opposite faces an opening 4-5respectively, the free edges of which, 6, 7, 8, 9 respectively, formingthe boundaries of these openings being bent at right angles so as toform along the longitudinal faces 10, 11, 12, 13 of the girder,continuous rabbets, i4, 15, 16, 17 respectively.

For fastening together the uprights and adjacent crossbeams, by elementsduly hidden inside aforesaid metal sections, use will preferably be madeof two fiat strips of metal 18, 19 passing through openings 20, 21, 22,23, cut into the corresponding parts of the wider faces 24, 25 of themetal section; near each end of aforesaid flat metal strips 18, 19, atapped hole, 26, 27, 28, 29 respectively, is provided and through eachone of those holes a screw 3t), 3t, 32, 33 is engaged, the free conicalend of which digs itsef into the web 3 of the corresponding cross-beam.

Aforesaid screws can be normally handled through the openings 445 of thecorresponding cross-beams.

In this way, a metal frame is obtained by means of identical orthogonalelements disposed as required by the number of panels which are neededin each particular case.

Starting from this metal framework a means of support, the partitionsare completed in the following way: panels 34 are adjusted into therabbets 14-17; most of the time, these panels will rest on the bottom ofaforesaid rabbets through the medium of intermediate strips or layers 35of some elastic. or plastic material acting as a seal; aforesaid panelsare held into contact withaforesaid sealing elements by cover-strips 36which in' turn are fastened to the uprights 1 by appropriate fasteners,such as the local fasteners 37 shown in cross section in FIGURE 8. Inthat particular instance, the coverstrips 36 consist of special metalsections provided with two L-shaped longitudinal edges 3839 which form agood contact surface with theunderlying panel 34, and

panels]. Such fillings are represented diagrammatically in "I FIGURES 8,9 and 10, where they are'referred to by two central longitudinal ribs40-41 of which each one delimits an inner groove, 42-43 respectively,into which.

the head of the elastic fastener 37 is held.

The outer parallel faces of aforesaid ribs 40-41 are preferably spacedby a distance which is practically equal to the'width ofthe openings 4-5of aforesaid uprights 1, so as to produce a certain box-like fit betweenaforesaid cover-strips and aforesaid uprights. The latter can havenumerous alternative shapes, namely in connection with the desiredresistance and stability of the structure. FIGURE 11 represents across-section of a first alternative shape in which the box-like elementis reinforced by several webs 3; in FIGURE 12,another optional shape isrepresented, in which two such webs 3 act as boundaries to a space intowhich some means of reinforcement 44, such assteel for instance, ishoused.

In another preferredform of embodiment, aforesaid metal sections used aswell for the uprights asfor the cross-beams can be shaped so asto makeit possible to use a very special system of clip-fastening such as hasbeen described in the Belgian Patent'No. 37,972 and No. 39,853. Withthis end in view, the edges 6, 7, 8, 9 of the metal section are providedon their inner face with one or more tooth-like projections45-46. As'shown in FIGURES 9 and 10, the metal sections made in that way 7 can beused to clip into place cover-strips 47 of a much simpler design. Inthis case in fact, the inner ribs 48-49 .need simply be terminated by awidened part of the triangular shape, 50, 51 respectively, which canengage aforesaid teeth 45-46. By making an adequate choice of theposition, of the shape and of the dimensions of aforesaid teeth, it ispossible to adjust the relative position between the uprights andthecross-beams 1, 2 of the metalframework and the cover-strips 47,forinstance in connection with the thickness of the panels 34 used forclosing the partitions.

In this way, such partitions can be built by choosing a very limitednumber of different elements, the fundamental characteristic obtained inthis way being that the cover-strips are directly fastened to theuprights and cross-beams without a separate intermediate elastic part.

Aforesaid metal framework as well as the panels used in connectiontherewith can of course be designed in a large variety of ways, so thatthe present invention makes it possible to attain, with the smallestpossible number the number 52.

The present invention concerns as well the metal framework as itsspecial constituent parts disclosed by the present invention, and alsoanypartition inwhich aforesaid metalfrarnework is employed.

What I claim is:

A partition wall comprising parallel spaced uprights, parallel spacedcross-beams interconnecting said uprights, each of said uprights andcross-beams-having an identical rectangular cross-sectionand comprisingat least one reinforcement web extending between two opposite parallelfaces of said rectangular cross-section, each of the other two oppositeparallel faces having a longitudinal opening and flanges connected tothe'edges ofsaid open- ;ing and extending outwardly perpendicular tosaid web and forming a continuous panel-embracing and support-' ingrabb'et, connecting means'consisting of atleast one strip extendingperpendicularly through each upright and connected with the web of theadjacent cross-beam for i interconnecting said uprights. andcross-beams. with the webs thereof located in a samev vertical plane,panels bearing against the rabbets of said uprights and cros beams,and'enclosing the spaces between said uprights and cross-beams, andcover-strips'engaged in the openings of said uprights and cross-beamsfor holding said panels'in saidrabbets.

7 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS l40,45 5 7/73Bonzano 18936 2,169,388 8/39 Ingram et a1. 18934 2,441,890 5/48 Larkin18936 2,706,541 4/55 Crown l8934 2,815,832 12/57 Schwartz 189.-34

3,034,609 5/62 Young; 189-34 3,037,593 6/62 Webster; 18934 3,040,847 6/62 Webster 189-34 FOREIGN PATENTS 836,772 6/ Great Britain. 50,592 7/ 41Netherlands.

NACKENOFF, Examiners. V

